Tire-chain tightener.



A. L. McLAlN.

TIRE CHAIN TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1911.

1 375,454. Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Z Will 411m"- QNVENTOH WITNESSES I UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICIL ALBERT L. McLAIN, 0F WETMOIRE, KANSAS.

TIRE-CHAIN TIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1918.

Application filed January 11, 1917. Serial No. 141,841.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. MCLAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Yetmore, in the county of Nemaha and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire- Chain T ighteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tire chain tighteners, and more particularly to a tool of this character intended to be used in tightening skid-chains around an auto tire or the like, preparatory to securement of the same. i I

An object. of my invention is to provide a tool of the character described which is so constructed that a pair of spaced hooks are provided to be fitted within the links of the chain at each end thereof and a handle is so connected with these hooks that upon manipulation of the handle the hooks will be drawn together and consequently the chain will be tightened upon the tire.

A further object resides in so connecting the handle and so forming the members by which the hooks are carried, that the handle operates after the manner of a cam to bring the hooks toward each other, rather than acting upon a direct leverage principle, thus giving a more powerful action and at the same time providing a structure in which the hooks will be forceably held against separation. o;'vl1en the actuating power is released from the handle.

\Vith the above and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter set forth, and

then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the tool.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow.

In its main parts, the tool comprises the jaw members 1 and 2 and the handle 3..

These main membersmight be made of castings, might be stamped out or forged, or might be constructed in any other way, it of course being understood that these points will depend in great measure upon the manufacturer. I v

The jaw members 1 and 2 are rovided with bearing openings at their on and a rivet or pin 4 is loosely mounted in the bearing opening to pivot these jaw members together. The free end of .each of the jaws has a hook formed thereon, the jaw 1 presenting the hook 5 to extend toward the jaw 2, and the hook 6 of the jaw 2 being extended toward the jaw 1. The jaw 2 on its outer side is curved to provide a cam face as shown at 7, and the handle member 3 is bifurcated as indicated at 8 to have the two jaws fitted therein, the jaw 1 being provided with a bearing opening through which a rivet or pin 9 is loosely mounted after be ing passed through the end of the bifurcated portion of the handle 3 to thus pivot-ally mount the jaw 1 in connection with the handle and to maintain the jaw 2 within the bifurcated opening 8 of the handle. The lower end of the bifurcated opening is preferably shaped to provide only a comparatively narrow bearing portion against the cam face 7 of the aw 2, and thus as the handle 3 may be moved to carry the bearing face 10 of the handle over the cam face 7 of the jaw 2, the frictional hearing will be minimized and at the same time sufiicient bearing and frictional engagement, will be accomplished that the handle will be held against return movement through spreading force exerted upon the jaws 1 and 2 through en 4 and with the jaws 1 and 2 spread, the

hooks 5 and 6 will be engaged in the ends of the chain. The engagement of the hooks 5 and 6 through the ends of the chain will place these hooks substantially against the tire, and as pressure is exerted upon the handle 3 to move the same toward the hook 6, the jaw 2 will consequently be held against movement, and the bearing face 10 of the handle will ride over the cam face 7 of the jaw 2 in consequence of which the jaw will move toward the jaw 1. It will of course be understood that it is desirable that the hooks 5 and 6 be engaged in links of the chain slightly beyond the end as the end It is preferable that the jawlinks are free and fastening can be secured therethrough to secure the chain in the tightening position. Following the permanent fastening of the chain, the handle 3 is again swung around its mounting on the pin 9 away from the hook .6 and toward the pin 4 which causes the bearing face 10 to ride over the cam face 7 and consequently the sliding pressure against the jaw 2 is relieved which permits the separation of the hook ends 5 and 6 in consequence of which the tool can be removed from the fitted position. It will of course be understood that .of the parts as well as in the manner of constructing the same, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the exact disclosure but only to such points as'may be set forth 7 in the claims.

I claim 1. A chain tightener including a pair of jaws pivotally connected together and each provided with a hook at the free end, one of said jaws being provided with a cam face which rounds out from the point of pivot thereof, and a handle pivotally mounted in connection with the remaining "aw to bear against the cam face as the hen le is swun from the pivotal connection of the jaws an to draw the hooked ends of the jaws togather. 1

2. A chain tightener including a pair of jaws, a pin by which said jaws are pivotally connected together, said jaws having hooks on the free ends thereof extending inwardly and one of the jaws being provided with a cam face on the outer side and rounded out from the point of pivotal mounting, the remaining jaw being substantially straight, a handle bifurcated at its end and pivotally connected with the straight jaw member to embrace that jaw having the cam portion formed thereon and to be disposed 1n such relation that upon swinging movement of the handle from the point of pivotal mounting of the jaws, the handle bears upon the cam portion and the hooked ends of the jaws are consequently drawn together.

3. A chain tightener including a pair of jaws one of which is made curved and provided with a cam face on the outer side of the curve, the remaining jaw being substantially straight in its body portion, a pin by which the jaws are pivotally connected together in such relation that the cam face of the curved jaw rounds out from the point of pivot, said jaws being provided with hooks formed at their free ends and extending inwardly, a handle bifurcated at one end to receive the jaws, and a pin by which the handle is connected pivotally with the straight jaw to embrace the curved jaw and to bear upon the cam face thereof as the handle is swung from the point of pivotal connection of the jaws and to thus draw the hooked ends of the jawstogethcr. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, ALBERT L. MoLAIN. Witnesses:

MARGUERITE CARRIGAN, BRYAN SMITH. 

